Bioplastics and polyolefins producer Braskem has developed two new circular polypropylene grades with recycled content based on post-consumer waste. Both grades have been approved for a wide range of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food contact applications, including consumer packaging, caps and closures, housewares and a wide range of thermoforming applications.
According to Braskem’s North America sustainability director, Geoffrey Inch, the announcement is another milestone in Braskem's journey to a carbon-neutral circular economy,
“These developments will also keep us on track to reach our goals of providing 300,000 tons of thermoplastic resins and chemicals with recycled content by 2025 and 1 million tons of thermoplastic resins and chemicals with recycled content by 2030,” he said.
To reach these goals, Braskem has embraced both mechanical and advanced recycling solutions and to that end has sought to engage with and invest in partnerships with other members of the value chain. In this way, not only is Braskem promoting mechanical and advanced recycling, the company is also supporting the increased production of high-quality recycled material. These initiatives are aligned with Braskem's feedstock diversification strategy and its macro goals of expanding the circular economy concept in the plastic chain and becoming a carbon-neutral company by 2050.
According to Braskem, its new thermoforming PP grade contains 25 percent post-consumer recycled content and meets the requirements for certain FDA food contact applications, including high-temperature packaging.
The new caps and closure grade also contains 25 percent post-consumer recycled content and is best suited for injection moulded caps and closures in segments such as food and beverage, health, hygiene, and cosmetics.